Olympics provide inspiration for films

It's time to go for the gold again. The Olympics may be happening in Sochi, but you don't have to move from your living room to savor these Olympic-themed movies.

By Al AlexanderFor The Patriot Ledger

The Sochi Olympics begin with Friday's opening ceremony. So to get you in the mood, we offer these home video tips.

"16 Days of Glory"

Before he died last year, Bud Greenspan left us with a series of terrific documentaries about every Olympics since 1984. But the first is still the best, and his chronicling of the triumphs and heartbreaks of the 23rd summer games in Los Angeles stands out from the rest.

Mary Decker's unfortunate fall, Joan Benoit Samuelson's blistering pace in the first-ever women's marathon and Mary Lou Retton's race for gold in the women's gymnastics all-around. They are all here and more.

"Cool Runnings"

John Candy stars in this fictionalized account of how the first Jamaican bobsled team made it to the 1988 Winter Olympics.

"The Cutting Edge"

An old-fashioned opposites-attract romantic comedy in which D.B. Sweeney plays a slovenly NHL player recruited to become the new pairs partner of Moira Kelly's fictitious figure skater. Formulaic? Yes, but the banter and the chemistry between the two stars scores 6s across the board.

"Miracle"

Kurt Russell summons one of the best performances of his career playing Herb Brooks, the no-nonsense coach of the U.S. men's hockey team that stunned the world when it knocked off the heavily favored Russians at the 1980 games in Lake Placid.

You can cut the Cold War tensions with a knife, as anticipation builds for the greatest hockey game ever played. And what did Brooks do when his boys topped the mighty Russians? He sprinted straight to the locker room, letting his charges absorb all the adulation. Now that's class.

"Munich"

Steven Spielberg did his best Paul Greengrass impersonation with this intense thriller about how the Israelis commissioned four assassins to take out the Black September members who took part in the deadly attack on the 1972 summer games.

Starring Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush and Daniel Craig, the film was a masterwork in spy-vs.-spy skullduggery.

But the final scene, set with the World Trade Center prominently in background, was a haunting, thought-provoking commentary on the senselessness of international terrorism, no matter what side you're on.

"Chariots of Fire"

The surprising 1981 Best Picture winner told the parallel stories of two British track athletes running for more than fame and glory at the 1924 games.

Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a devout Christian, believes he must win to prove his worth to God. And Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), is out to convince the world that Jews aren't inferior athletes.

Not only is the film a testament to the commitment and sacrifice required to be a champion, it also has that unforgettable score by Vangelis.

"The Jesse Owens Story"

It's shameful that there's not a big-screen telling of this brave, incredible athlete's story and how he stood up to the forces of evil at the 1936 games overseen by Hitler himself.

But until there is, this middling small-screen version will have to do, with Dorian Harewood in the title role.

"Tonya & Nancy"

No Olympic movie roundup would be complete without mention of this it's-so-bad-it's-good made-for-TV flick chronicling the bizarre rivalry between local hero Nancy Kerrigan (Heather Langenkamp) and the psychotic Tonya Harding (Alexandra Powers).

Its style is a baton to the knee, but darned if you can't stop watching this train wreck transpire.